Pak batsmen dance to Srinath8217;s high octave at Eden

CALCUTTA, Feb 18: When a weary Indian team trudged into the field after a welcome cup of tea today afternoon, many among the 90,000 here ...

CALCUTTA, Feb 18: When a weary Indian team trudged into the field after a welcome cup of tea today afternoon, many among the 90,000 here had already started packing up for the day. Pakistan were striding along at 203-3 and Saeed Anwar seemed well on his way to that 300 he had promised before this tour. In fact, there was hardly a murmur 10 overs and 4 balls later when Javagal Srinath picked up the second new ball. But then, in the 9.2 overs that Srinath went on to bowl, the first Test of the Asian Championships was turned upside down.

The first blow came off a bouncer that Youhanna mis-hooked to Dravid and the next was a bomb which could have sent Shahid Afridi to hospital but fortunately landed up in Nayan Mongia8217;s gloves. Pakistan8217;s wall was breached and soon their chief architect, that left-handed 30-year-old computer engineer from Karachi, was left hanging with an odd expression on his face and 188 runs to his name.

And, as a Pakistani journalist remarked at the end of this tumultuous third day at the Eden Gardens, 8220;we8217;ll now have to watch out for that little man.8221; Hopefully, Mr. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar will come up with a satisfactory rejoinder tomorrow, as he nearly did in Chennai. But that will be the next day8217;s story.

Today, it was all about Anwar8217;s colossal effort and how Srinath set up the climax with an eight-wicket haul to record a career high in 39 Tests. Let8217;s get over with the numbers first: the Karnataka pacer8217;s 13-114 in this match is his first 10-wicket match haul and the best by an Indian at Eden. On the other side, Anwar8217;s 9th hundred came in his 39th Test after a dismal pair on debut against the Windies in 1990-91. That he has played just so few Tests since then can safely be blamed on a whimsical selection panel and a recurring viral infection that knocked him out for more than a season just before that 1997 one-day world record 194 in Chennai.

Coming back to this sunny Thursday, even Srinath would be rubbing his eyes at the way Pakistan folded up after the soundest of starts. At noon, India were gaping at a fourth innings target of 400 or more as Anwar comfortably worked his way through two half-century partnerships and a 115-stand for the fourth wicket with the classy Yousuf Youhanna.

The torture began with a stubborn stay by Saqlain in the morning, an edgy Ijaz knock later on and Youhanna8217;s wonderful strokeplay. And, Anwar nursed each one of them through this period with stands of 68 for the second wicket and 53 next. Every Indian bowler were blocked out here, including including the harmless off-spin of Ramesh and Laxman. But, surprisingly, not once were Saurav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar called in to turn their arm over.

Indeed, Azhar8217;s methods during the last three Tests have propped up one question after another, and like them even this mystery will remain unsolved. Tendulkar finally brought himself after getting a chance to lead the team in Azhar8217;s absence just after tea. But by then 76 overs had gone, the new ball was due and Srinath8217;s dream spell was waiting round the corner. Anwar8217;s epic, meanwhile, was shaping out nicely as he shrugged off two chances that could have cut him down at 2 yesterday and at 44 today. While Azhar8217;s attempt at second slip off Srinath was definitely on, Mongia8217;s stumping was slightly dicey with Kumble8217;s ball hurrying through.

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However, there was no let-up in Anwar8217;s march as he brought up his 50 with a huge six off Harbhajan and tapped Srinath to mid-off for a single to pick up his 100. A few powerful pulls and those patent square drives took him quickly to 150 before Srinath took over with some accurate, fiery stuff which got him more rewards than he could have ever hoped for.